updated 6:21 p.m. ET Nov. 29, 2009

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Darrelle Revis saw the ball deflect off Steve Smith’s foot and float right into his hands.

Finally, the New York Jets thought, a lucky bounce that went their way.

Revis returned one of the Jets’ four interceptions 67 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and New York overcame an injury scare to quarterback Mark Sanchez before holding on to beat the Carolina Panthers 17-6 on Sunday.

“That was a sigh of relief,” Revis said of his early touchdown. “That was an easy score right there. It doesn’t get any better than that to start us off.”

Thomas Jones had a 3-yard touchdown run as the Jets (5-6) won at home for the first time since beating Tennessee in Week 3, sending the Panthers (4-7) to their second straight loss.

New York can’t celebrate for long, though, with a game against Buffalo in Toronto on Thursday night. The Jets won for just the second time in eight games.

“We’re rolling now and we can’t think about a month ago,” said Sanchez, who left for four plays after injuring his left leg. “We’ve got to think about now.”

Sanchez finished 13 of 17 for 154 yards and an interception in the first game since coach Rex Ryan took a more active role in the offense. The coach and quarterback established a color-coded system that would help make the rookie more aware of the task at hand.

“You see what happens when I play smart,” Sanchez said. “I don’t know how to explain it, but it works.”

New York’s win didn’t come without some tense moments. With the Jets leading 14-3, Sanchez scrambled to the right sideline on first-and-10 from New York’s 46 and was tackled out of bounds by Richard Marshall after an 8-yard gain.

He stayed down for a few moments as the trainers checked out his left knee.

“It didn’t look good the way he was grabbing his knee,” wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery said.

Helped to the sideline, Sanchez put very little weight on the leg. Sanchez was replaced by Kellen Clemens, but came back on the next offensive series to cheers from the Meadowlands crowd.

Slideshow   Week 17 action Take a look at shots from the NFL's 17th week of play in 2009. NBCSports.com

“Once we saw him throwing the ball, I said, ‘Hey, he’s cool,’ ” Cotchery said.

After the game, Sanchez said he was totally fine.

“I guess it was just an awkward fall and he kind of landed on my leg,” he said. “They checked out all the ligaments and stuff and it looks good.”

On his first throw after returning, Sanchez was intercepted by Chris Gamble. It appeared Carolina had cashed in on the turnover with a touchdown when Smith came down with a 10-yard catch in the end zone, but Ryan challenged the call.

After a video review, the ruling was reversed. Referee Jerome Boger said Smith didn’t have possession when he went out of bounds in the back of the end zone. It turned out to be a huge call because after another incompletion, the Panthers settled for a 28-yard field goal by John Kasay to make it 14-6 with 11:45 left.

“It doesn’t matter what I think,” Smith said. “It only mattered what the ref said. That’s how it goes. I believe I caught it.”

Revis, who had two interceptions, gave the Jets a 7-0 lead on the fluky play midway through the first quarter. After converting three third downs on their opening drive, the Panthers had another shot on third-and-9 before Jake Delhomme and Smith had a miscommunication when the quarterback changed the call at the line.

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